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Spello - Che Bello!
Spello (half-day)
Assisi/Spello Tour: "BEST-SELLER" FOR OVER 10 YEARS (full-day))
Spoleto/Spello (full-day)
Gubbio/Spello (full-day)
Bevagna/Spello (full-day)
Spello - Mountaintop Castle-village (half-day)
- new tour!
Spello FESTAtour in May or in June
Comments
Spello (half-day)
Like
Assisi, Spello is constructed in the local pink limestone quarried
on Mt. Subasio, lending it a unique rosy hue, particularly at sunset.
Called Hispellum by the Romans, a walk through Spello is
a feast for the eye: cobblestone passageways open into intimate
closed piazzettas, and lead to Roman arches, Romanesque churches,
a wooden loggia, a frescoed courtyard...
Our tour will take in one of the most splendid Renaissance fresco
cycles in Umbria, painted by Pinturicchio (and my personal favorite
of all Umbria's artistic masterpieces), as well as a special visit
to a most unique local friar/craftsman... who'll also show us a
13th c. cloister and refectory, not open to the public...
Our day will end in a medieval wine cellar for a tasting of Umbria's
best wines, prize-winning olive oils and various Umbrian delicacies
which range from white truffle/almond paté to wild boar salami...
our host: one of Umbria's top sommeliers.
Assisi/Spello Tour: "BEST-SELLER" FOR OVER 10 YEARS (full-d
Join us to discover why my tour of Assisi and Spello has
been a "best-seller" for over ten years. This tour enchants me! I never tire of sharing the wonders of these medieval hilltowns gems: a world-famous (most justly!) splendor, Assisi (now my own "hometown"), and a lesser-known treasure, Spello. A banquet crowns our day.
Assisi/Spello: Medieval Splendor and a Banquet
Our
morning Assisi tour will take in the historic and artistic wonders of
this "crown jewel" of all the medieval hilltowns of central Italy.
We will visit the stunning three-level Basilica di San Francesco built
in the 13th c. to house the body of St. Francis of Assisi (most beloved
of all saints for the Italians) and decorated with 10, 000 square meters
of the most splendid frescoes of the late Gothic/early Renaissance. You'll
be thrilled to learn why modern art is born here and to learn about the
greatest restoration project in western European art: the fresco restoration
following the 1997 earthquake.
As we stroll through the medieval backstreets, we'll visit other Assisi
treasures, both Roman and medieval, and meet "the locals", as well as
noted Umbrian artisans. We'll head over to Spello, (16 km from Assisi),
a gem of the "undiscovered" medieval hilltowns of Umbria for
an extraordinary "banquet" lunch in one of the top 18 wine cellars in
Italy. 
We will comparatively taste an astounding selection of some of
Italy's best wines (all from small "boutique" vineyards and of limited
production), top olive oils and an endless array of gourmet foods (even
non-wine drinkers will be enthused!).
If we are lucky, elderly Neapolitan chansonnier, Salvatore,
will be able to join us with his guitar, enhancing our "Spello experience" with his wonderful Neapolitan songs.
After lunch, we'll stroll Spello che bello!. Like Assisi, Spello is
constructed in the local pink limestone quarried on Mt. Subasio, lending
it a unique rosy hue, particularly at sunset. Our walk will take in vestiges
of Spello's Roman origins, one of the most splendid Renaissance fresco
cycles in Umbria, and an unforgettable visit to an inspiring local friar/craftsman.
Comments below will tell you why the Assisi/Spello tour has become my "BEST-SELLER":
Spoleto/Spello (full-day)
Spoleto
incorporates an extraordinary blend of Roman, Early Christian, medieval
and Renaissance architecture - making it the perfect stage-setting
for the "Festival of the Two Worlds" of Giancarlo Menotti.
Our visit will start, appropriately,
back in time - with a visit to one of the oldest churches in Western
Europe (4th - 5th c. AD) outside of the medieval walls. We'll take
in the 14th c. medieval aqueduct, imposing feudal fortress and the
Renaissance masterpieces of Fra' Lippo Lippi and Pinturicchio in
the Duomo... the local market... and a taste of a local specialty.
Lunch in a local trattoria specializing in truffles and other dishes
typical of the area... and then on to Spello for the afternoon (see
above half-day tour).
Gubbio/Spello (full-day)
Our route to Gubbio will take us across breath-taking
landscapes - "off the beaten track" - so that we can stop enroute
to explore an abandoned feudal castle.
Dramatically perched on a hill overlooking the
ruins of its Roman theater, here in Gubbio time seems to have quite
literally stopped in the Middle Ages. Our walk through the labyrinthine
medieval back streets will take us to the imposing 14th c. Palazzo
dei Consoli, said to rival Palazzo Vecchio in Florence in its beauty
(I think it surpasses it).
Along the way, a stop to taste local delicacies - wild boar salami, pecorino (sheep's milk) and truffle cheeses, local liqueurs, truffle paté- and then a stop to observe two fine young artisans at work. Acclaimed as two of the most-gifted ceramicists in Italy, their gold-incised black bucchero (Etruscan technique) astounds. Few tourists in Gubbio since no railway lines run through here.... After our tour through Gubbio... on to Spello (about 1-1/4 hr by car)... for our tour (as described in Spello, half-day).
Bevagna/Spello (full-day)
After
our tour of Bevagna (see Bevagna Tour) and lunch, on to Spello.
Built in the local pink limestone, bellissimo Spello (of
Roman origins) captivates- right from one's first glimpse. Our stroll
through cobbled backstreets will lead us to Roman city gates, Romanesque
churches, delightful hidden courtyards... and to one of the most
exquisite Renaissance fresco cycles in all of Umbria (and my personal
favorite).
Here, too, we'll meet the locals
and a friar artisan will surprise us with his crafts... and show
us a 13th c. refectory and cloister not open to the public. We'll
end our tour with tastings of fine wines, Umbria's best olive oils,
wild boar salami, truffled cheeses and more in a medieval wine cellar.
Our host: one of the area's top sommeliers.
Spello/Mountaintop Castle-village (half-day)
We
will start our tour with a drive along a mountainside covered with
olive groves, climbing to a walled castle-village (pop: approx.
45!) for a walk through a "world-apart", stopping to talk with the"locals".
We'll then head onto Spello (che
bello!). Our walk through Spello will include a visit to my
favorite friar who will show us his creations and then to the studio
of a Spello painter whose work is created on most unusal surfaces
(you'll be amazed...).
Art treasures of medieval Spello include Roman vestiges, Renaissance
fresco masterpieces (including my favorite fresco cycle in all of
Umbria) and a Baroque wonder - and of course, the town itself is
a showcase of medieval architecture. We'll have a tasting/lunch
in a medieval wine-cellar, hosted by one of the area's top sommeliers.
Our fare will include TOP wines of Italy, prize-winning olive oils,
sheeps' milk cheeses, truffle pats....
This tour is especially recommended for those seeking a "non-touristy"
route - and who enjoy discovering artistic treasures (past and present),
meeting the locals, foods and wine... and stepping into the relaxed
Italian rhythm of life.
Comments
"Anne's love and enthusiasm for Italian life and for Umbria in particular has truly enhanced each of my visits to Italy. On a recent visit, she totally charmed my husband and helped him fall in love with Italy. It wasn't his first time in Italy, but it was his first time truly experiencing and understand things Italian. We did a splendid afternoon of wine, cheese, olive/olive oil, honey, etc. tasting in nearby Spello. A guitarist serenaded our small group as Anne explained the complexities of the limited edition wines, the capers from Sicily, the mozzarella from Naples, a variety of cheeses and honey from Umbria, plus much more. She's a rare gem of a tour guide and we can't recommend her highly enough. Brava Anne!!"
James I. Mills
Jennifer Walters
Laguna Beach, CA, USA
"The dinner at your home was most memorable as was every minute of our time with you.
You really made St. Francis and Assisi come to life and Spello was so enjoyable: we couldn't have had a better, more enthusiastic guide. "
Albee Guttman, Boca Raton, FL
"Robbin and I
had a wonderful time in Italy. The time we spent with you was a
high point of our trip. Umbria was a new region for us to explore
which was why we signed up for tours of Spello and Assisi with you.
We were not disappointed. We learned so much from you about the
region’s history and people and your knowledge of various historical
and architectural details really made the city come alive for me. But the absolute best part of our whole trip was wine tasting
in Spello. The wines and food we were served were all outstanding as was Roberto, the charming proprietor of the wine shop. Many thanks!"
Patricia Emerick, Ventura, CA
"Anne, We particularly enjoyed our tour of Spello. The lunch
of delicious Umbrian foods paired with wonderful wines was memorable.
Roberto was charming and very knowledgeable about the wines. Visiting
the Franciscan monastery and meeting Brother Paul was a rare treat,
both inspiring and fun. While we love Tuscany, we will definitely
return to Umbria now that we have been introduced to her many charms."
Eileen and Scott Friars
"One
special memory of our trip to Italy is of walking up a street in
bellissimo Spello when we met this little old man who starts
talking to Anne in Italian, saying he was a poet. He started reciting
poetry to Anne who translated for us. After, he took us back to
his house and his storeroom to taste some of his wine. which he
also gave us as a gift. You do not get that kind of experience
on your own, with a tour, or even with any of the 'normal' guides!"
Sandi and Jerry Spector, Palo Alto, CA
"During our month in Umbria,we had the
great good fortune to spend four days with the tour guide, Anne
Robichaud. Those days were my favorites because I like to understand
what I see. I know we missed a lot in the towns we visited without
her. We loved Spello with Anne... and especially touching was
the visit a Franciscan friar - a wonderful soul and so artistic
- he gave us a tour of the private rooms of the church and showed
us his artwork."
Nancy Davidson, Palo Alto, CA
"We also shared private time with two wonderful
and utterly saintly members of the Franciscan clergy in Spello.
We toured both the public and private areas of their churches and
were touched by the love they showered upon us, again because we
were with Anne Robichaud. All of time with Anne was full of joy.
We learned and experienced so much more than we would have had we
relied on ourselves to guide us through the area. We were enriched
on so many levels."
Peggy Worthing, Atherton, CA
"We thoroughly enjoyed our special day in Assisi and Spello, with
highlights too numerous to mention. Thanks to knowledgeable and accessible
Annie, we saw and experienced more in our time with her than in any other
tour we have ever taken. Most importantly, we had lots of fun; the wine
tasting was a blast."
Karen and Chuck Shoup, Riverbank, CA
"Thank you for the wonderful walking tour of Assisi, and the tastings "banquet" lunch in Spello....i smile when I see us dancing at the lunch, accompanied
by the wonderful guitar player, Salvatore. What a memorable afternoon:
bright sunshine, cozy environment, great food and wine".
Darlene Quigg, Sausalito, CA
"Anne,
our tour with you to Assisi and Spello
a highlight of our first visit to Italy. My wife's mother felt it was
the absolute highlight of the entire trip because of your in-depth
knowledge of the art, history and culture of Assisi. I will highly
recommend your tour services to any of our friends visiting the Assisi
region."
Steve Boster, Ridgecrest, California
"The Assisi and Spello tour was more than we could have imagined: from
meeting local artisans (discussing their trade) to learning the history
of the region. This experience is something our children will speak of
for years to come. The wine and olive oil tasting was excellent...and
after our visit to the olive oil tasting, our children have acquired
a love for olive oil!. ...and a heartfelt "thank you" to
Brother Paul. Seeing such artistry with such peace and grace brought
such joy to all of us and ...when we asked our children what was their "favorite" part
of the tours, they both replied in unison 'Brother Paul' "!!!
The Wolf Family
Anthony, Michelle, Caitlin and Eric
"Anne,
On behalf of my entire family (Paul, Judy, Mike, Liz, Moira, Megan, and
Dan), I want to thank you for providing such a memorable Umbrian experience.
Having read other reviews of your tour I know I sound like the proverbial
broken record, but Assisi was stunning and the Spello wine tasting was
icing on the cake. Your passion for the region came through in every
aspect of our brief time with you and I want you to know that you left
an enduring impression on every single one of us............. pace e
bene."
Best regards,
Paul
"After a week of touring with books and audioguides it was such
a thrill to have a brilliant, real live person to show us around! The
history of the city, it's churches, its artists and saints unfold as
you stroll through present-day Assisi with a local who knows the secret
treasures of the city. The tasting and lunch at Spello was a revelation
for us both...the food was superb and the wines and olive oils we tasted
were incomparable. I wish we had been able to take Annie's other tours!
Next time! Grazie mille, Annie. We loved every minute of it!"
Rosemary and Richie, Berkeley , Ca
" .....and o, that Salvatore, our musician....I loved him and so
did everyone else in our group---he was our 4th of July celebration,
better than fireworks!"
Laura Johnson, Chicago, IL